Method for carrying out votes, referendums and polls and system for the implementation thereof

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus with data collection and preprocessing subsystems interconnected by a network, carry out open and secret votes, referenda and public opinion polls. A payment system with communication environment is used with the subsystems and network. A poll data processing center for final processing of the data is connected to the subsystems by the communication environment. Software of the payment system includes functions for carrying out votes, referenda and public opinion polls, for preprocessing the data, for encrypting and decrypting the data, and for placing the data into information blocks to carry out the votes, referenda and polls. To exchange electronic messages containing these information blocks between the subsystems and the processing center, the software of the center includes functions for exchanging the messages, for decrypting the blocks and for accumulating and analyzing the data in the blocks.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to social sphere and is intended for carrying outvotes, referenda and public opinion polls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known are methods for voting and systems therefor which perform thecount of “pros” and “cons” using specific electronic devices, anddetermine their percentage ratio (see, for example, USSR Author'sCertificate, 1539811, Int. Cl. G 07 C 13/00, 1990; Russian Patent2015570, Int. Cl. G 07 C 13/00, 1994).

The closest analogue by its technical essence and the result achieved isthe method for carrying out vote and the electronic system forimplementing thereof including a precinct system comprising a centralprocessor and electronic ballots connected to said central processor byelectronic interface circuits. The precinct system, in turn, can beconnected to higher level systems: city, county, state, country. Saidsystems communicate via telecommunication network and modems connectedto the central processors of corresponding systems, and all the databeing transmitted are encrypted.

Secrecy of the vote in said precinct system is ensured by using forvoting a special electronic key card being provided individually to eachvoter. Every such card has a unique number which is generated by theprecinct system, and is used only once. This number is recorded onto amagnetic stripe of the electronic key card using a corresponding writingdevice connected to the central processor of the system.

The precinct system voting is carried out as follows. A voter accessesany of electronic ballots with the help of his/her electronic key cardand makes his/her choice. After the voter removes his/her card from theballot, the system makes a record in its database according to the factof this voting and then initializes this ballot for the next vote. Thevoting data are real-time displayed on the monitors of system operatorsand precinct observers, and are also transmitted via saidtelecommunication network to the higher level systems (PCT ApplicationWO 96/02044, Int. Cl. G 07 C 13/00, published in 1996).

Disadvantages of this system are the high cost (particularly when takinginto account the intended one-fold usage of this system) and necessityfor the voters to vote only in a limited number of places speciallyassigned for voting, i.e., the precincts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to expand the usage area of thedescribed system by means of ensuring the possibility to carry out notonly votes, but also referenda and public opinion polls, to reduce thecosts for creating the system, to ensure its repeated utilization, andto achieve the maximum comfort for participants of votes, referenda andpublic opinion polls.

This object is achieved by that in a system for carrying out votes,referenda and public opinion polls, which includes an integrated systemfor collecting data on arrangements being carried out, said integratedsystem consisting of a data collection subsystem and data preprocessingsubsystem interconnected by means of a data network, a payment system ofany level—international, national, regional, local, or a combination ofsuch payment systems is used as the integrated system for collecting thedata on arrangements being carried out, and a communication environmentof said payment system is used as the data network, said system forcarrying out votes, referenda and public opinion polls comprising a polldata processing center for a final processing of said data, the centerbeing connected to said data collection and data preprocessingsubsystems via said communication environment, the software of saidpayment system including an additional set of functions for carrying outvotes, referenda and public opinion polls, for preprocessing the data onarrangements being carried out, for encrypting and decrypting thosedata, and for placing those data into information blocks to carry outboth open and secret votes, referenda and public opinion polls, toexchange electronic messages containing said information blocks betweensaid data collection and data preprocessing subsystems and the poll dataprocessing center, and the software of the poll data processing centerincluding a set of functions for exchanging said electronic messageswith said subsystems, for decrypting the information blocks included inthose messages, for accumulating and analyzing the data on votes,referenda and public opinion polls contained in those informationblocks.

Hereinafter, the communication environment of the payment system isrecognized as telecommunication networks, communication equipment andinformation exchange protocols used within the framework of this system.

The peculiarity of the system according to the present invention is inthat the poll data processing center consists of a communicationcomputer with a communication device connected to it, a central computerwith a long-term data storage device connected to it, and personalcomputers, all said computers being coupled via a local area network,and said communication device being connected with said communicationenvironment.

The said object is also achieved by that in a method for carrying outvotes, referenda and public opinion polls, the method including stepsof: identifying voters and respondents in accordance with individualelectronic key cards; receiving information on the choice made by them;transmitting this information via telecommunication networks, andprocessing subsequently the accumulated information; the step ofidentifying the voters and respondents is performed by means of POSterminals and automatic teller machines operated by the payment system,and payment instruments of said payment system being at the disposal ofthe voters and respondents are used as the individual electronic keycards, and information about the voters and respondents as well as thechoice made by them in the form of electronic messages consisting ofencrypted information blocks are directed from said POS terminals andautomatic teller machines to the processing centers of said paymentsystem, wherefrom those electronic messages after preprocessing aredirected to the poll data processing center for decrypting saidinformation blocks and final processing the data on votes, referenda andpublic opinion polls.

Hereinafter, in order to simplify the enunciation, the term “poll” willbe used instead of terms “vote”, “referendum”, “public opinion poll”,and voters, or persons expressing their opinion or answering thequestions of any poll will be denoted by the term “respondent”. In thiscase, the term “public opinion poll” pertains to the procedure ofascertaining opinions on the same subject or obtaining answers on thesame question from three or more persons during a limited time period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention is clarified by the drawings, where:

FIG. 1 shows a conventional diagram of a modem interbank payment system;

FIG. 2 shows a conventional diagram of exchanging the informationmessages between participants of a purchase payment procedure in saidpayment system;

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of a system for carrying out polls according tothe present invention for the case, when the poll data processing center(PDPC) is connected with the processing centers of the payment systemvia a dedicated telecommunication network;

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of a system for carrying out polls according tothe present invention for the case, when the PDPC is connected with theprocessing centers of the payment system via a public telecommunicationnetwork;

FIG. 5 shows a PDPC diagram;

FIG. 6 shows a diagram of exchanging the information messages betweenparticipants of the poll procedure for the case, when the PDPC receivesdata about respondents' answers from the acquirer processing center; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram similar to FIG. 6 of another step of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the better understanding of the invention essence it is necessary todescribe a conventional diagram of well-known payment systems.

The well-known payment systems are based on financial interrelationsbetween the system participants arising in connection with holders ofpayment instruments of that system performing the following operations:performing payments for goods and services, cash withdrawals atautomatic teller machines (ATMs) as well as other operations providedfor by the rules of this payment system. In the simplest case, thepayment system operation is controlled by a single company(particularly, a bank) which is also an issuer of the paymentinstruments of that system. Moreover, participants of that system areboth holders of the payment instruments and points-of-sale providinggoods to the holders upon presentation of any of said paymentinstruments. In the case of a developed payment system which, as a rule,is established in the form of an interbank association, a conventionallist of participants looks as follows:

-   -   payment instruments issuing banks (issuers);    -   acquiring banks (acquirers);    -   settlement banks;    -   processing centers (PCs);    -   holders of payment instruments;    -   points-of-sale.

In this case, the rules of existing payment systems of such type allowbanks to combine functions of issuer and acquirer.

Various types of the payment instruments are utilized in modem paymentsystems. As a rule, the payment instrument is a rectangular card made ofpaper (carton), plastic or metal and carrying unique information whichallows to identify unambiguously the payment system and issuer of thispayment instrument, its holder, as well as the payment instrument itselfwithin the framework of its payment system. Accordingly, methods used toplace said information on payment instruments are divided into followinggroups:

-   -   graphical recording;    -   embossing (mechanical relief pressing-out);    -   bar-encoding;    -   encoding of the magnetic stripe;    -   writing in the integrated circuit;    -   laser writing (utilized in the so called optical cards).

The most wide-spread payment instrument of the modern payment systemsare plastic cards of the following types:

-   -   magnetic stripe cards;    -   integrated circuit cards (the so called smart cards);    -   hybrid cards combining the above two methods of information        storage.

The rules of every particular payment system contain well-definedrequirements on design and technical performance of the paymentinstruments utilized in that system.

In order to describe a modem interbank payment system, refer now to itsconventional diagram depicted in FIG. 1.

As it was mentioned above, the payment instrument in such system is aplastic card containing a magnetic stripe or an integrated circuit. Thepayment system is based on financial interrelations between the banks ofthe following types:

-   -   1) Issuer 1—opens card accounts for its clients and provides        them with cards used by these clients (cardholders 16) to make        purchases in points-of-sale 8, withdraw cash at ATMs 7, and        perform other transactions consistent with the rules of the        payment system;    -   2) Acquirer 2—provides cash to cardholders 16 of the payment        system at its ATMs 7, and enters into agreements with        points-of-sale 8, according to which these points-of-sale 8        provide goods to cardholders 16 of the payment system;    -   3) Settlement bank 3—keeps correspondent accounts of the issuers        1 and acquirers 2, opened for mutual settlements with respect to        transactions performed by cardholders 16 of the system.

Each of the banks 1-3 can be connected with one or more processingcenters (PCs) 4-6, i.e., companies performing, on behalf of their banks,the real-time processing of transactions undertaken by cardholders 16,as well as the information exchange via the dedicated telecommunicationnetwork 9 being a part of communication environment of this paymentsystem. Depending on the type of functions delegated by the banks 1-3 totheir PCs 4-6, these PCs can be divided into the following types:

-   -   1) Issuer PC 4: stores in its database the data on its bank's        cardholders 16 and the cards themselves, as well as on balances        of accounts linked to these cards. Issuer PC 4 uses said data to        respond to authorization requests (see below) received from        acquirer PC 5 at the moment the cardholders 16 perform        transactions using cards of the discussed payment system. PC 4        is connected with its issuer 1 via the public telecommunication        network 11;    -   2) Acquirer PC 5: maintains the connection via public        telecommunication networks 14 and 15 with ATMs 7 of its acquirer        2 and with electronic terminals (POS terminals) of the        points-of-sale 8 signed up by this bank, and also handles        telephone requests from cashiers of the points-of-sale 8 in the        case of the so called voice authorization. When a cardholder 16        performs the transaction at ATM 7 or point-of-sale 8 serviced by        such PC, this center forms an authorization request (see below)        and transmits it to issuer PC 4. Acquirer PC 5 also transmits        the information about all transactions it serviced to clearing        PC 6. PC 5 is also connected with its acquirer 2 via the public        telecommunication network 12;    -   3) Clearing PC 6: performs, for the settlement bank 3, daily        clearing (calculation of settlement totals for issuers 1 and        acquirers 2 having correspondent accounts with the settlement        bank 3), based on the information received from acquirer PCs 5        on transactions performed by cardholders 16 of this payment        system. In addition, all electronic messages exchanged between        PCs 4, 5 are necessarily routed via clearing PC 6. This allows        the clearing PC 6, in particular, to respond to authorization        requests (see below) on behalf of issuer PC 4 in the case of in        the case of disconnection with it, malfunctions in the computer        system of the latter, etc. The clearing PC 6 is connected with        its settlement bank 3 via the public telecommunication network        13.

Now the procedure of preparing the payment card for providing it to itscardholder 16 will be discussed. Before the issuer 1 provides thecardholder 16 with a new card, PC 4 of this bank performs the so calledpersonalization of this card during which the information about thiscard and its cardholder 16 (card number, expiry date, cardholder's firstand last name, etc.) is placed onto the card, and, depending on the cardtype, is also encoded on the magnetic stripe or written on the card IC.Numbers of all cards of the payment system are unique, the first sixdigits of the card number represent the bank identification number(BIN), a number assigned by the payment system to the issuer 1 on itsrequest for some series of issued cards, which allows to unambiguouslyidentify the bank and the card series. In addition to the card, thecomputer system of the issuer PC 4 generates for this cardholder 16 apersonal identification number (PIN), a pseudo-random number used toconfirm a cardholder's 16 identity at ATMs 7 or points-of-sale 8terminals. After the card has been personalized, the information aboutcard, its cardholder 16 and his/her account with the issuer 1 is storedin a database of the issuer PC 4. If the issuer 1 has agreementssimultaneously with several PCs 4, the information about all cards ofthis bank with the same BIN should be stored in the database only of oneof these PCs 4. Thus, the card BIN indicates unambiguously not only theissuer 1 but also the issuer PC 4 responding to authorization requestsfrom acquirer PCs 5 concerning that card, which allows PCs 5 to definethe network address of the issuer PC 4 when transmitting said requestsvia the dedicated telecommunication network 9.

Now a conventional procedure of how to make purchases with a card willbe discussed. A diagram of the information messages exchange betweenparticipants of this procedure is depicted in FIG. 2 (the fact that, inaccordance with the rules of the payment system, all electronic messagesby which PCs 4, 5 of this system exchange, are necessarily routed theclearing PC 6 is not shown in FIG. 2 as insignificant). The cardholder16 gives his/her card to the point-of-sale 8 cashier, who checksvisually the validity and, as far as possible, the authenticity of thiscard. If the rules of the payment system require that the cardholder'sphoto should appear on the card, the cashier also compares thecardholder 16 with the person in that photo. After that the cashier,depending on technical means he/she has at his/her disposal, performseither voice or electronic authorization. In the case of voiceauthorization the cashier calls an operator of the acquirer PC 5 ofservicing this point-of-sale 8 and reports the point-of-sale 8 codeassigned by that PC, as well as the card number, transaction code,purchase amount and other necessary information (message M1). Theoperator of the PC 5 enters all received information into the terminalof the computer system of the PC 5 and initiates, without breaking theconnection with the cashier, the transmission via the dedicatedtelecommunication network 9 to the PC 4 servicing the card issuer, of aso called authorization request (message M2) based on the abovementioned information. The computer system of the issuer PC 4 comparesthe information received in the request with the data about this cardand the status of the cardholder's 16 account stored in this PC'sdatabase, and transmits back to the acquirer PC 5 one of the followingresponses (message M3):

-   -   allow the purchase;    -   refuse the purchase;    -   pick-up the card;    -   cardholder should contact the issuer;    -   other possible responses.

The detailed content of the response is displayed on the screen of theterminal of the operator initiated that authorization request, andhe/she reports the necessary data to the cashier (message M4),completing thus the voice authorization procedure. Then the cashier,depending on the information received from the operator, either providesthe cardholder 16 with a receipt (slip) and the purchase, or performsother necessary actions.

In the case of electronic authorization the cashier types on the POSterminal keyboard the transaction code, purchase amount and othernecessary information, and then inserts the card into the terminal. If,according to the card acceptance rules in this point-of-sale 8, thecardholder 16 should be additionally identified using the PIN, he/she,following the cashier's instructions, enters the PIN on a separate PINpad turned to the cardholder 16 and protected from a stranger's look.After a certain key has been pressed by the cashier the POS terminaltransmits to the acquirer PC 5 an electronic message (message M1)containing the information entered into the terminal by the cashier andthe cardholder 16 and also read from the magnetic stripe or integratedcircuit of the card. On the basis of this message the acquirer PC 5,like in the case of voice authorization, transmits the authorizationrequest (message M2) to the issuer PC 4 via the dedicatedtelecommunication network 9. On receiving a response from the issuer PC4 (message M3) the acquirer PC 5 transmits it to the point-of-sale 8terminal (message M4). If the response proved positive, the POS terminalprints a receipt to be signed by the cardholder 16 (the signature is notrequired if the cardholder 16 has entered his/her PIN), and the cashierprovides the cardholder 16 with the purchase. Irrespective of theauthorization method, the information related hereto is stored in thedatabase of both PCs. The authorization procedure in the case of cashwithdrawals generated by cardholders 16 at ATMs 7 is substantiallysimilar to the described electronic authorization excluding the factthat due to the cashier's absence the cardholder 16 types the PIN andthe requested amount on the keyboard of ATMs 7.

The system according to the present invention (FIGS. 3 and 4) comprisesa payment system including:

-   -   issuers 1 of payment instruments for this system;    -   acquirers 2;    -   settlement banks 3;    -   issuer PCs 4;    -   acquirer PCs 5;    -   clearing PCs 6;    -   ATMs 7;    -   points-of-sale 8;    -   communication environment comprising the dedicated        telecommunication network 9 and the public telecommunication        networks 11-15;    -   wherein:    -   each issuer 1 is connected via the public telecommunication        network 11 with one or more issuer PCs 4;    -   each acquirer 2 is connected via the public telecommunication        network 12 with one or more acquirer PCs 5;    -   each settlement bank 3 is connected via the public        telecommunication network 13 with some of clearing PCs 6;    -   all above mentioned PCs 4-6 are interconnected by means of the        dedicated telecommunication network 9;    -   each ATM 7 is connected via the public telecommunication network        14 with any of acquirer PCs 5;    -   each point-of-sale 8 is connected via the public        telecommunication network 15 with some of the acquirer PCs 5;    -   each respondent 16 (holder of the payment instruments) has one        or more payment instruments each of which is issued by a certain        issuer 1.

The system according to the present invention also includes the publictelecommunication network 10 (only in the embodiment of system depictedin FIG. 4), the PDPC 17 connected with the PCs 4-6 of the abovementioned payment system via either a dedicated telecommunicationnetwork 9 (FIG. 3), or the public telecommunication network 10 (FIG. 4),and an additional set of functions of the software of this paymentsystem for carrying out polls and processing the poll data (not shown inFIGS. 3 and 4).

The PDPC 17 (FIG. 5) is a computer system which can comprise thefollowing:

-   -   a communication computer 18 with a connected communication        device (CD) 19 coupling the PDPC 17 with either the dedicated        telecommunication network 9 of the above mentioned payment        system, or the public telecommunication network 10;    -   a central computer 20 having a long-term data storage device        (LTDSD) 21 connected to it;    -   personal computers 22 of the operators;    -   a local area network (LAN) 23 connecting computers 18, 20, 22.

The additional set of functions for the software of the above mentionedpayment system for carrying out polls and processing the poll datacomprises functions added into the software of PCs 4-6, ATMs 7 andpoints-of-sale 8 terminals, functions added to the software of the PCs4-6 being as follows:

-   -   encrypting and decrypting the data when exchanging electronic        messages via the dedicated telecommunication network 9 and        public telecommunication networks 10-15;    -   transmitting to the PDPC 17 electronic messages containing the        data about the respondents' 16 answers to the questions of any        poll.

In addition to the above mentioned functions a function of detecting arespondent's 16 attempt to answer twice or more the same question of anypoll is added into the software of the issuer PC 4.

The following functions are added into the software of ATMs 7 andpoints-of-sale 8 terminals:

-   -   initiating the “poll operation”;    -   interpreting data entered on the keyboard of this device in        accordance with the specific requirements related to the “poll        operation”;    -   encrypting and decrypting electronic messages when exchanging        information with the acquirer PC 5 via the public        telecommunication networks 14, 15;    -   printing for the respondent 16 a special receipt containing the        data on poll participation.

The device being described allows to carry out both open or nominal, andanonymous or secret polls. This is achieved by dividing the electronicmessages containing the data on the respondent's 16 answers intofollowing information blocks:

-   -   an information block I1 comprising a code of the poll and a        number of a question;    -   an information block I2 comprising a the answer code (for        example, “0” means “No”, “1” means “Yes”, “2” means “I don't        know”, “3” means “All the same” or other ones);    -   an information block I3 comprising data about the respondent 16        similar to the data included in a typical authorization request        (the payment instrument number, expiry date, cardholder's first        and last name, etc.).

Before starting every poll the PDPC 17 transmits to PCs 4-6 of thepayment system an electronic notification of the forthcoming poll,including, among other data, the poll type (open or anonymous). Whilecarrying out a poll the computer system of any of PCs 4-6 intending tosend to the PDPC 17 an electronic message about the respondents' 16answers, determines, according to the poll type, which of the abovementioned information blocks can be transmitted to the PDPC 17, thenencrypts each of the selected information blocks independently of otherones and includes it in the message content. Thus, in the case of openpolls, the PDPC 17 will receive messages containing all the abovementioned information blocks, and in the case of anonymous polls onlyinformation blocks I1 and I2 will be included in the content of suchmessages. Moreover, in the case of open polls all components ofelectronic messages related to the respondent's 16 answers receivedduring the poll are stored in the databases of PCs 4-6, while in thecase of anonymous polls information blocks 12 are deleted and only afterthat these messages are stored in the databases of PCs 4-6. As a result,on completing an anonymous poll the PDPC 17 obtains data related to therespondents' 16 answers to the questions of this poll but does not knowthese respondents' 16 names, while PCs 4-6 know the names of therespondents 16 participated in this poll but do not obtain anyinformation about these respondents' 16 answers.

There exist two possibilities of how to organize the informationexchange between poll participants. The first variant assumes that thePDPC 17 receives the data related to the respondents' 16 answer from thePC 4 servicing the issuer of the payment instrument which was used bythe respondent 16 to take part in the poll. In the second variant thementioned data are provided to the PDPC 17 from the acquirer PC 5servicing that point-of-sale 8 or ATM 7 which was used by the respondent16 to participate in the poll. All necessary instructions related toselection of the information exchange variant are included in the abovementioned notifications received by the PCs 4-6 from the PDPC 17.

Now interaction of system elements according to the present inventionwhen carrying out a poll will be described. The diagrams of theinformation messages exchange between poll participants corresponding tothe two above mentioned variants of organizing this exchange aredepicted in FIGS. 6 and 7. For the sake of simplicity the mentioneddiagrams are given for that variant of the system according to thepresent invention in which the PDPC 17 exchanges information with thePCs 4-6 of the payment system via the dedicated telecommunicationnetwork 9. Answers to the poll questions are directed by the respondent16 to the system via a point-of-sale 8 cashier (in the case of voiceauthorization), point-of-sale 8 terminal (in the case of electronicauthorization), or ATM 7. Depending on the system notification methodselected by the respondent 16 the mentioned information (message M1) isprovided to the acquirer PC 5 servicing the point-of-sale 8 or ATM 7either as a voice message of a point-of-sale 8 cashier to the operatorof the acquirer PC 5, or as an electronic message from the correspondingdevice. In the latter case, the software of this device encrypts saidmessage before sending it to the acquirer PC 5. On receiving and, ifnecessary, decrypting the message M1 sent in one of the two ways, theacquirer PC 5 extracts from the information block I3 of this message thenumber of the payment instrument of the respondent 16 and determinesthus the address of the corresponding issuer PC 4 in the dedicatedtelecommunication network 9 of the payment system. After that theacquirer PC 5 encrypts and directs to the determined address a specialauthorization request (message M2) containing information blocks I1, I2,and I3 (the information block I2 only in the first variant of theinformation exchange). The issuer PC 4 independently of the number ofinformation blocks included in the message M2 decrypts only informationblocks I1 and I3. The content of the information block I3 is comparedwith the data on that payment instrument and its holder (respondent 16)stored in the database of the issuer PC 4. If validity of the paymentinstrument and its holder is confirmed, the issuer PC 4 checks whetherthe respondent 16 has previously answered those poll questions indicatedin the information block I1. Such check is practicable due to the factthat the information about all performed authorizations is stored in thedatabase of the issuer PC 4. According to the results of the twomentioned checks the issuer PC 4 transmits the answer back to theacquirer PC 5 (message M3). As in the case of purchasing, the content ofthe answer of the issuer PC 4 depending on the authorization method iseither displayed on the screen of the operator terminal of the acquirerPC 5 for immediate voice transmission to the point-of-sale 8 cashier, oris directed by the computer system of the acquirer PC 5 to thepoint-of-sale 8 terminal or ATM 7 (message M4). Then, if both saidchecks were completed successfully, either issuer PC 4 or acquirer PC 5,depending on the selected variant of information exchange, directs viathe dedicated telecommunication network 9 encrypted electronic messageto the PDPC 17 (message M5), including information blocks I1, I2, and I3(the information block I3 is included only in the case of the openpolls). The PDPC 17 accumulates all received messages M5, processes thedata contained therein and transmits on completing the poll the pollresults to the poll customer.

While carrying out the poll in the system according to the presentinvention, an electronic messages containing data related to therespondents' 16 answers will be provided by the processing centers 4-6of that system to the PDPC 17 (FIG. 5), either via the dedicatedtelecommunication network 9 of the payment system, or via the publictelecommunication network 10. Said messages are routed through the CD 19to the communication computer 18 which decrypts them and then, via LAN23, directs the decrypted data to the central computer 20. The centralcomputer 20 processes those data and stores both the data and theprocessing results into the LTDSD 21. On the basis of mentioned resultsof processing the central computer prepares a poll report based on theabove processing results in a format suitable to transmit subsequentlythis report to the poll customer. PDPC 17 operators prepare, by means ofthe personal computers 22 connected to LAN 23, the PDPC 17 computersystem for the next poll, ensure on-line control over the poll dataprocessing, and carry out diagnostics of the computer system, itssoftware modernization, etc.

In the common case the PDPC 17 is not included in the above mentionedpayment system and, correspondingly, does not conform to its rules.However, when the PDPC is connected via the dedicated telecommunicationnetwork 9 with the PCs 4-6 of this system it should comply with therules of this payment system but only as far as information exchangeprotocols utilized in the dedicated telecommunication network 9 areconcerned. Nevertheless, the functions of the PDPC 17 could be performedby any of PCs 4-6 of this payment system, provided the correspondingagreement has been reached.

The above described scheme for carrying out polls by means of the systemaccording to the present invention does not practically depend on thelevel of the payment system participating in this poll (international,national, regional, local) since a change of the payment system levelmeans only corresponding changes of the administrative scale of thissystem and does not involve any substantial changes either in thestructure of the payment system, or in the rules of interaction of itselements when carrying out the poll. Due to the same reason, the abovedescribed scheme for carrying out polls is fully applicable even whenthe payment system utilized in the poll is an aggregate of two or morepayment systems, provided the payment instruments of each of thesesystems are also valid in the accepting network of all other systemsforming the mentioned aggregate, while electronic messages between thesepayment systems are exchanged via communication gates connecting thededicated telecommunication networks of these systems. Furthermore, thesystem for carrying out polls according to the present invention allowsto combine the possibilities of any number of independent paymentsystems simply by adding the results provided by each of the utilizedindependent systems.

The method for carrying our polls among the holders of the paymentinstruments of the payment system of the system according to the presentinvention is implemented as follows. The organization acting as the pollcustomer and the PDPC should agree on all technical parameters of afuture poll including the poll type (open or anonymous), numbers ofquestions and corresponding variants of answers, types of paymentinstruments admitted for participating in the poll, allowedauthorization methods and types of devices, etc. Before starting thepoll the PDPC transmits to each of the payment system PCs an electronicnotification of the forthcoming poll, including the following data:

-   -   poll code;    -   poll date or timeframe for carrying out the poll;    -   poll type;    -   list of BINs admitted to participate in the poll;    -   authorization methods to be used during the poll (only for        acquirer PCs);    -   types of the devices which can be used when carrying out the        poll (if the electronic authorization is allowed; only for        acquirer PCs);    -   conditions on which the PC will transmit to the PDPC information        about the respondents' answers to the poll questions;    -   other necessary data.

In its turn, the organization being the poll customer notifies, in oneway or another, the holders of the payment instruments about theforthcoming poll. Particularly, such announces can be printed onreceipts provided after each purchase maid by the holders, or on accountstatements which are regularly prepared by the issuers for theirholders. Said announces can also be published in mass-media, distributedin the form of booklets, or placed on advertisement boards in publicplaces, etc. If several polls coincide in time, it is worthwhile to usecolored paper when printing advertising information on those polls,which implies that only one of the possible colors should correspond toa specific poll. The following parameters are to be indicated in theannouncement:

-   -   poll date or timeframe for carrying out the poll;    -   poll code;    -   numbers and formulations of questions;    -   answer codes;    -   other information.

The method for carrying out polls being described allows the respondentsboth to combine participation in a poll with making purchases inpoints-of-sales, withdrawing cash at ATMs and obtaining cash advances inretail outlets, or to use the mentioned points of acceptance only forthe purposes of participating in the poll.

When being in the point-of-sale and desiring to participate in the poll,the respondent (holder of the payment instrument) gives his/her paymentinstrument to the cashier who checks visually the validity and, as faras possible, the authenticity of this card. If the payment system rulesrequire that the holder's photo should appear on the card, the cashieralso compares the respondent with a person in that photo. Furtherproceeding depends on the type of authorization utilized by thatpoint-of-sale. In the case of voice authorization the cashier calls anoperator of the acquirer PC servicing this point-of-sale and reports the“poll operation” code followed by the poll, question and answer codesdictated by the respondent. Then, as it was mentioned above in thedescription of the system operation according to the present invention,the operator initiates two checks: verifying the information on thepayment instrument providing by the cashier and making sure that theresponding is not attempting to re-answer this question. The informationconcerning the results of these checks appears on the operator's monitorof the acquirer PC, and he/she informs the cashier that the “polloperation” was either successfully completed or declined. If theoperation is declined, the operator will give the appropriate reason. Inthe case of positive answer the cashier provides the respondent with aspecific receipt containing the following information: a date, time andplace of the respondents' answer, poll code, number of the question,answer code, and other necessary information.

If a POS terminal is available, the cashier types on the POS terminalkeyboard the “poll operation” code and, at the respondent' dictation,the poll code, number of the question and answer code, and inserts thepayment instrument into the terminal. If according to the rules of thispoint-of-sale the respondent should be additionally identified by theuse of a PIN, the respondent types, following the cashier'sinstructions, his/her PIN on a separate PIN pad turned to the respondentand protected from a stranger's look. When the cashier presses a certainkey, the POS terminal transmits via the telecommunication network to theacquirer PC an encrypted electronic message comprising the abovementioned information blocks I1-I3 with the data entered by the cashierand read from the respondent's payment instrument. This message is aninstruction for the acquirer PC to initiate the “poll operation”, whichincludes the same checks used in the case of voice authorization. Whenthe checks are completed, the acquirer PC transmits an encryptedelectronic message (answer) to this POS terminal via thetelecommunication network. In the case of positive answer the POSterminal provides the respondent with a special receipt containing thefollowing information: the date, time and place of the respondent'sanswer, number of the respondent's payment instrument, poll code, numberof the question, answer code, and other necessary information.

In the above described variants of the respondent's poll participation,the data related to this respondent will be available to thepoint-of-sale cashier, and in the case of voice authorization saidinformation will also be known to the operator of the acquirer PC.Besides, it is not protected against tapping devices. If the respondentdoes not want the mentioned data to become available to anyone else,he/she may choose a POS terminal with the PIN pad which implies thatonly the “poll operation” code will be entered by the cashier. Otherdata needed to answer the poll questions will be entered by therespondent himself/herself. Nevertheless, the fact of the respondent'sparticipation in this poll will still be known to the cashier. Shouldthe respondent consider this information confidential, he/she mayparticipate in the poll by means of an unattended (stand alone) POSterminal or ATM. In this case all the subsequent operations will beperformed by the respondent himself/herself: he/she will be required toenter the “poll operation” code, the poll code, number of the question,and answer code, insert his/her payment instrument into this device forreading the data stored on it, and, finally, initiate the transmissionof the electronic message generated by this device to the acquirer PC.On completing the “poll operation” the device provides the respondentwith a special receipt containing information on the completedoperation.

Irrespective of the respondents' preferences concerning methods ordevices used to answer the poll questions, the PDPC may additionallylimit, in agreement with the customer of this poll, the functionality ofthe payment system related to this poll for the whole period of the pollby sending to the processing centers corresponding instructions includedin the electronic poll notifications. The PDPC may, for example, preventthe processing centers from handling voice authorization requests withthe “poll operation” code, as well as electronic requests with the samecode of operation received from POS terminals not equipped with PINpads. In this case the acceptance network servicing this poll should beprovided with a sufficient amount of ATMs and PIN-based POS terminals,otherwise such limitations can substantially decrease the pollefficiency or even make it impossible.

To increase participation attractiveness for holders of the paymentinstruments and, as a consequence, to increase the number ofrespondents, various methods of attracting and stimulating holders maybe used, including, for example, lotteries among the poll respondents.Said lotteries should be performed after the poll has been completed,whereas poll receipts provided to the respondents may be used as lotterytickets. Respondents may also be granted rewards or discounts uponpresentation of these specific receipts. Regardless of the motivationmethod implied, prizes can be given to respondents to reward both theirparticipation in the poll and provision of answers to a specificquestion of the poll. Any other socially secure forms and methods toattract and stimulate holders for poll participating are alsoadmissible.

The abode described invention allows to carry out votes, referenda andpublic opinion polls, reduces costs for creating the system for carryingout the above arrangements, ensures its repeated utilization, and allowsto achieve maximum comfort for participants of votes, referenda andpublic opinion polls.

1. A system for carrying out votes, referenda and public opinion polls,the system including an integrated system for collecting data onarrangements being carried out, said integrated system consisting of adata collection subsystem and data preprocessing subsysteminterconnected by means of a data network, characterized in that apayment system of any level—international, national, regional, local, ora combination of such payment systems is used as the integrated systemfor collecting the data on arrangements being carried out, and acommunication environment of said payment system is used as the datanetwork, said system for carrying out votes, referenda and publicopinion polls comprising further a poll data processing center for afinal processing of said data, the center being connected to said datacollection and data preprocessing subsystems via said communicationenvironment, a software of said payment system including an additionalset of functions for carrying out votes, referenda and public opinionpolls, for preprocessing the data on arrangements being carried out, forencrypting and decrypting those data, and for placing the data intoinformation blocks to carry out both open and secret votes, referendaand public opinion polls, to exchange electronic messages containingsaid information blocks between said data collection and datapreprocessing subsystems and the poll data processing center, and thesoftware of the poll data processing center including a set of functionsfor exchanging said electronic messages with said subsystems, fordecrypting the information blocks included into the messages, foraccumulating and analyzing the data on votes, referenda and publicopinion polls contained in the information blocks.
 2. The system by theclaim 1, characterized in that the poll data processing center consistsof a communication computer with a communication device connected to thecommunication computer, a central computer with a long-term data storagedevice connected to the central computer, and personal computers, allsaid computers being coupled via a local area network, and saidcommunication device being connected with said communicationenvironment.
 3. A method for carrying out votes, referenda and publicopinion polls, the method including steps of: identifying voters andrespondents in accordance with individual electronic key cards;receiving information on the choice made by the voters and respondents;transmitting the information via telecommunication networks, andprocessing subsequently the accumulated information; characterized inthat the step of identifying the voters and respondents is performed bymeans of POS terminals and automatic teller machines operated by thepayment system, and payment instruments of said payment system being atthe disposal of the voters and respondents are used as the individualelectronic key cards, and information about the voters and respondentsas well as the choice made by the voters and respondents in the form ofelectronic messages consisting of encrypted information blocks aredirected from said POS terminals and automatic teller machines to theprocessing centers of said payment system, wherefrom the electronicmessages after preprocessing are directed to the poll data processingcenter for decrypting said information blocks and final processing thedata on votes, referenda and public opinion polls.